Paper cup or cup-holder handle



March 10, 1931.

PAPER CUP OR CUPHOLDER HANDLE Filed Novfi 7, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 10, 1931. A. N. PARRAN PAPERCUP OR GUPHOLDER HANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. l 7, 1929 Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES ALICE N. PARRAN, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND PAPER CUP OR CUP-HOLDER HANDLE Application filed November 7, 1929. Serial No. 405,337.

An important defect in the paper cups which are used for general purposes, a large proportion of them being distributed from magazines of the vending type or otherwise, and other cups not necessarily of paper which are used in connection with vending machines, particularly those which distribute hot beverages, is the lack of a handle which not only prevents the paper cup from collapsing, but protects the hand from the heat of the hot beverage or other liquid food.

The invention comprises a paper handle which may be folded flat for the purpose of packing the cups in a magazine or for distribution or otherwise, the handle being formed integral at one end with a paper strip which is adapted to be formed into a cuplike cylinder, the other end of the strip being removably connected to a lower point on the cylinder. This invention is illustrated in two forms, in one of which the paper strip is formed into a paper cup and in the other is used as a cupholdere In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the invention in the two forms above referred to, although it is not the intent of the illustration or the description to limit the invention to the forms thus illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1is a side elevation of apaper cu provided with collapsible handle in accor ance with the invention, the handle being in the operative position.

Figure 2 is an elevation at right angles to Figure 1 showing the handle collapsed.

Figure 3 is a plan View of a blank comprising the cylindrical portion of the cup and the handle.

Figure 4 is a section on the line it- 1 of Figure 2 with the parts in the position in which they are shown in Figure 1, i. e., the

handle is drawn out to operative positioninstead of being in collapsed position.

Figure 5 is a perspective of the end of the top strip forming the handle illustrating the fastening means thereon.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the cup. Figure 7 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 1, showing the handle of the invention applied to a cupholder instead of a cup.

Figure 8 is an elevation taken at right angles to the plane of Figure 7 looking from the right in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a view in perspective of the blank from which the cupholder is formed showing the arrangement of the handle and fastening for holding the strip in cylindrical form.

Figure 10 is a section on the line 101O of I *igure 9 showing the underlying tongue at the end of the strip.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts in the different figures, the construction shown comprises, referring to the paper cup illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, a strip -of paper 1, having attached thereto either integrally or otherwise, a handle strap 2 near the top and connecting means 3 near the bottom. This connecting means in the form illustrated in Figure 1 to 6, comprises adouble slot 1 formed in any convenient position being preferably located in a projecting tab 5 which may form the lower end of the handle. The lower end of tab 5 may be further secured by enclosing it within bottom flange 16.

Figures 1, 2 and 6 show the strip 1 rolled into the form of a paper cup 7 the handle 8 in Figure 1 being in the operative position, and in Figure 2 in the collapsed or fiat folded position. Referring to the details of the preferred structure, the handle strap 2 is formed at its outer end remote from the strip 1 with atongue member 9 wider than the re mainder of the strap and preferably pointed at 10 at the extreme end. The tongue 9 is preferably of a width somewhat greater than the length of the slots 1. In assembling the handle to the position shown in Figure 4, this tongue is folded inwardly as to the lateral ends 11, which may be scored at 12, to the position shown in Figure 5 so that it may be most conveniently passed through the slots 4, the tab 5 being turned upwardly for this purpose, the tongue 9 is preferably thrust from the inside outwardly through the upper slot 4 and inwardly through the lower slot and the strap 2 is then to the best adrantago drawn downwardly to the position it i at a: in dotted lines occupies in Figure 2 to collapse the handle so that the cups may be nested for transportation or for insertion in a magazine of a vending or other dispensing apparatus.

In Figure 1 the handle is further shown in collapsed position.

To further assist in looking the handle strap in the slots 4, this strap is shown as provided near its lower end with a locking tab 14 cut as illustrated by slotting the strap in or near the tongue portion 9, the free end of the tongue being turned upwardly in the operative and in the folded position of the strap 2. This manner of connecting the handle strap 2 to the lower portion of the cup or more particularly tab 5, is best illustrated in Figure 4 which is an enlarged section through the connecting means on the line 44, in Figure 2,the parts, however, being shown in Figure 4 as drawn up to the position illustrated in side view in Figure 1. Tu this Figure 4 the handle is in the operative position, Figure 1, as distinguished from the collapsed position, Figure 2.

In this operative position tension has been applied to the handle strip 2 pulling it upwardly through the slots 4 until the tongue 14 which is deflected inwardly toward the cup engages the transverse band 15 between the slots 4 completing the interlocking of the handle strap 2 with the connecting means 3 shown as comprising tab 5 at the lower portion of the cup.

It will thus be understood that the cup having been removed from the magazine or other container with the handle in collapsed position. permitting the cups to be nested, the handle may be drawn into operative position by the user or customer, merely by pulling on the handle strip 2, or the cup ma be packed with the member 5, folded up wardly or backwardly and the strap 2 turned inside the cup, 3 being interengaged in operative position with strap 2 by the customer in the manner described.

Referring now to Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10, it will be noted that the embodiment herein illustrated comprises a paper strip 21 corresponding to the member 1, which serve; as a cupholder, being held in cylindrical form by connecting or engaging its ends with each other in any suitable manner temporarily or otherwise, as by means of'transverse slots 22 at one end engaged by means of a tongue 24 at the other, which tongue is shown in the form of the invention illustrated as bound or edged with annealed wire 25, best shown in section, Figure 10. The wire has a stiffening effect on the paper tending to hold it in folded position so that when the tab 24 is thrust through the slots 22 and bent back against the strip, the engagement thus accomplished is permanent and effective.

the strap connecting member f The paper strip 21 which may be engaged in cylindrical form, as already described, is shown as provided with a handle strap 32 corresponding to the member 2 previously described, which handle strap may be formed integrally with the strip 21 at its upper edge or otherwise attached to said strip, the same being adapted to be connected at its free end 33 to the lower portion of the strip or cylindrical member 21 temporarily or in any suitable manner as by means of a slot 34 formed in said cylindrical upper strip 21 through which slot 34 the handle strap 32 is passed and folded over as illustrated, the end of said strap being preferably edged with fine annealed wire 35 so as to hold the strap in its bent position and make the engagement .of the parts more permanent, though this is not essential to the operativeness of the device.

The cupholders may be delivered from a magazinewith the cups 36, which may be of glass, metal, porcelain or even paper, being either attached thereto as shown in Figure 7, but with the handles released at the lower end and folded or the cupholder may be detached from the cup being most conveniently placed inside the cup.

Assuming first that the holders are attached to the cups but with the handle strap 32 disengaged at the lower end and folded, the purchaser or user of the cup merely slides the cylindrical holder or strip 21 downwardly toward the lower end of the cu which end is of reduced diameter, the cup eing of increased taper upwardly, in which position the band is so loose that the end 33 may be easily thrust through the slot 34 and folded upwardly as shown, the cup being then y thrust downwardly into the holder, the engagement of the handle becomes secure and the cup and handle are thus combined ready or use. 1

Assuming on the other hand that the bandle is delivered inside the cup completely detached, the most convenient operation to place the holder and handle in operative position'is to first pass the end 33 of the handle through the slot 34 and fold it upwardly on the outside as illustrated in Figure 7 though the reverse operation, i. e., passing the end 33 outwardly through the slot 34 and folding it downwardly and then upwardly on the inside, would, of course, be optional with the user. The strip 21 is then arranged in the cylindrical form by engaging the tongue 24 with the slots 22 either by passing it around the cup or so arranging it and cup through and into the holder and moving it downwardly until it is tightly engaged. It will also be apparent that the construction shown in Figures 1 to 6 may be utilized either as a paper cup or as a cupholder, the bottom 35 being omitted if desired. While the term paper has been used throughout as passing the describing the most convenient material for ing two transverse slots 5 aced apart in the this purpose, it should be understood that it direction of the length the tab, the strap is not the intention to limit the invention to having at its end a tongue wider than the this material as it is obvious that various slot and a tab having its free end pointed flexible sheet materials as sheet metal or sized away from the free end of the strap and servcloth may be used for this purpose. mg as a fastener to prevent disengagement I have thus described specifically and in Of he tab and S rapdetail two embodiments of the invention in S1gned by me at Baltlmore, Maryland,

order that the nature and operation of the his th day Of N vember, 1929.

10 same may be clearly understood, however, the ALICE N. PARRAN. 35

specific terms herein are used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 0

1. The combination in a paper blank adapted for use as a container of a paper handle consisting of a paper strap proi'lecting from the upper portion of the blank aving the free-end ada ted to be fastened to the 85 blank, the blank i leing. provided with coopcrating interengaging means spaced downwardly from said upper portion.

2. The combination with a paper strip adapted to be formed into a cylinder or ring 90 of a handlestrap permanently connected near one edge and having its free end adapted to be secured to said strip, the strip having cooperating fastening means near its other e ge. Y 95 3. The combination with a paper strip adapted to be formed into a cylinder or ring of a handle strap permanently connected near the upper edge and having its free end adapted to be secured to said'strip, the strip 10o having cooperating fastening means near its lower edge, said latter means being in the form of a slotted tab.

4. The combination with a paper strip 40 adapted to be formed into a cylinder or ring of a handle strap permanently, connected near the upper edge and having its free end adapted to be secured to said strip, the strip having cooperating fastening means near its 5 lower edge, said means comprising a slot v through which the end of the strap is passed to place the handlein operative condition. 5. The combination with a paper strip adapted to be formed into a cylinder or ring1 50 of a, handle strap permanently connecte near the upper edge and having its free end adapted to be secured to said strip, the strip having cooperating fastening means near its lower edge, said means comprising a project- 55 ing tab having means thereon to engage the end of the strap, the strap and tab being thus connected in operative position to form the handle.

6. The combination with a paper strip adapted to be formed into a cylinder or ring of a handle strap permanently connected near the upper edge and having its free end adapted to be secured to said strip, the strip having cooperating fastening means near its 55 lower edge, sa1d means comprising a tab hav- 13! 

